Cricket: Pietersen gives England boost; THE ASHES: Tail wags to lift Flintoff's men in Third Test battle.

Byline: By Myles Hodgson in Perth

KEVIN Pietersen sparked a brave lower order fightback by England today to limit Australia to a narrow 29-run first innings lead in the Third Test.

Then Matthew Hoggard stepped up the pressure on the Aussies by taking the wicket of Justin Langer with the first ball of England's reply.

But the home side refused to be rattled and after 21 overs, Australia were 82 for 1, 111 runs ahead with Matthew Hayden on 39 and Ricky Ponting on 41.

Hampshire batsman Pietersen hit a superb 70 as England slumped into trouble on the second day having dismissed Australia for a lowly 244 yesterday at the WACA in Perth.

His defiant display, which included eight fours and a six, provided the catalyst for last-wicket pair Steve Harmison and Monty Panesar to forge a determined 40- run stand - England's best of their innings - which prevented Australia taking a more decisive lead. Resuming on 51 for two trailing by 193 runs, England were finally dismissed for 215 but only after Harmison hit an encouraging 23 and Panesar built on his five-wicket display yesterday to score an unbeaten 16. England's hopes of remaining competitive in this Test and the series seemed reliant on them getting past Australia's first innings total and establishing some sort of lead but were undermined by the early loss of Paul Collingwood and once again their middle order failed to offer much resistance.

This time it was the surprising figure of all-rounder Andrew Symonds, claiming two for eight in four overs of his medium pace, that put Australia into a dominant position.

Collingwood fell to the 21st delivery of the day when veteran seamer Glenn McGrath built up the pressure sufficiently to tempt him into a risky drive off the back foot which was caught in the gully.

His demise brought Pietersen to the crease and he forged a determined 27-run stand with Andrew Strauss, which gave England hope they could still claim a first innings lead. They were parted when Strauss, who had battled for nearly two hours for his 42, was harshly dismissed by seamer Stuart Clark after an apparent edge behind. Umpire Rudi Koertzen upheld the appeals despite television replays proving inconclusive.

CAPTION(S):

NO HEROICS THIS TIME... England batsman Paul Collingwood walks to the pavilion after being caught by Australia's Matthew Hayden off the bowling of Glenn McGrath in Perth today.' TAKE THAT... Kevin Pietersen plays a super shot today.